Abstract: Letters from European composer Ernst Krenek to his former student, Mildred Kayden, and other related ephemera. Collection
materials date from 1940 to 1986 and include letters, postcards, newsclippings, programs and a musical score.

Creator:
Kayden, Mildred

Creator:
Krenek, Ernst, 1900-1991

Biography

Mildred Goldstein studied music at Vassar College under Ernst Krenek, from 1940 to 1942. After graduation, Goldstein worked
as both an instructor of music literature at Vassar College as well as a composer and lyricist. In 1950, she married Bernard
Kayden, taking his name and composing under the name Mildred Kayden. During her career, Kayden wrote scores for musicals such
as
Call the Children Back and
Storyville.

Scope and Content of Collection

The collection is comprised of letters and postcards from Krenek to Kayden, original and photocopied recital programs, sheet
music by Kayden, and photocopies of newspaper clippings. Krenek's letters to Kayden contain opinions on technical aspects
of musical composition, upcoming projects, lecture notes produced by Krenek, and information regarding a radio broadcast collaboration
between Krenek and Kayden. Krenek additionally refers to Mildred's undergraduate thesis project on French opera. Newsclippings
and programs are mainly photocopies and generally refer to Kayden's arrangements for the Composer Club's recitals during her
undergraduate years at Vassar. One original program lists a 1949 perforformance of Ernst Krenek's
Concerto No. 3, and includes a description of the piece.
Sonata-D Minor a score by Kayden from 1941, is handwritten. The 1942 copy of the
Vassar Journal of Udergraduate Studies contains a published version of
Sonata-D Minor and is annotated in pencil by Kayden.